About Me

Hi! Welcome to my blog.

My name is Nancy Barnes. (Bees is short for Barnes and ATC means Artist Trading Card.)

BeesATC launched as a daily art blog on May 14, 2011, with a small ACEO stash that I had made in 2009 knowing that I would have to get busy and start making art again if I wanted the blog to continue. It was the encouragement I needed. At the time, I was still adjusting to life after disability. I felt like I wasn’t really good at anything anymore, that I needed to pick something and practice a lot. Make 1000 pieces. Yeah, practicing anything a thousand times greatly increases the odds of improvement.

I choose to do my “practice work” in ATC size, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, with colored pencils because the size and medium fit within my economical, physical, and other limitations.

2014 UPDATE: Never say never… after posting “The Last Post” in May 2013, I have rambled endlessly on Barnbees (my other blog) and took a serious break from making ATC size art. I missed it. I also hate leaving things half done, or in this case, only a third done as the last ATC posted was #334. That leaves a whole lot of exploration to do, avenues to travel with a variety of things to practice. So, I’m picking up where I left off… with a few changes. Most notably, NO RAMBLES! I won’t say “no words” as I might include a poem with the art now and then.

I hope you enjoy my art as much as I enjoy making it. Thanks for following along! ~ N.

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33 Responses

“I have the potential for getting really good at several different things. All I have to do is pick one and practice a lot. Make 1000 pieces. Yeah, practicing anything a thousand times greatly increases the odds of improvement.” You bet lady! Love it. :)

What is an ATC, and an ACEO? (Can you tell I’m not a visual artist?) ;)

Hi Nancy, I wanted to ask you a question about your work with CafePress, but I couldn’t find a place to do it. You might want a contact page or a contact email or a for further information listing to facilate these kinds of communication. I am considering making some allied products featuring paintings, such as canvas bags, trivets, mugs or aprons and am wondering how to learn more about such things. Would you be willing to share info? — Sharyn

Hi Nancy,
I started a blog for the same reason, so make myself create. To have “someone” to answer to. And to document my processes…
I love your work. From the few Ive seen they look heart felt and theraputic. The way art should be!
Look forward to exploring your blog.

I don’t have any (non-water-soluble) pencils, but now I want some the next time I deserve a treat. Would you recommend buying a set or choosing individual pencils? What brand(s) do you like best? (I’m doing The Sketchbook Project and realized I would sketch more with bright new pencils that wouldn’t bleed through the paper when wet). I’m inspired to draw eyes by the beautiful eyes you draw. — Sharyn

I wasn’t sure how I should answer this so I did experiments and some thinking outloud on virtual paper (see new page here called “Pencils”) before coming back to answer.

I recommend buying a few Prismacolor pencils because they are the most popular and if you like them, invest in a set. But you might want to try the Polychromos since they color match your Aquarelles. And they are my favorite.

Thanks for the compliment on my beautiful eyes. :D Did you opt to have your sketchbook scanned to post online? I’d love to see it when it is done. I haven’t signed up yet… yes, pushing the deadline debating if I want to this year. Good luck!

I did opt to have my sketchbook scanned — not that it’s anything to write home about, but there is always the possibility that one stunning sketch will appear. Quantity, right? Between the size and the bleeding paper the sketchbook is not yet my favorite thing. I am managing to have a little fun.

I’ve got at least five sets of aquarelles, but I always use my Koh-I-Noor set (some of them are now only an inch high — soon I’ll have to switch another brand in: I’ve used this set since 1995).

I wasn’t thrilled with the sketchbook paper last time, but it was fun. I ended up with less pages because I rubber cemented some together, glued stuff on others, and ripped some out to make room for a skinny wire sculpture.

Okay, I’ll come over to check it out. I’ve copped attitudes about blog awards that don’t really mean anything, but I feel honored that you feel that I’ve been an inspiration (when it is really the other way around, as you are an artistic inspiration) so I will accept. Thank you.

Hi Nancy, I’m trying once more to recognize your wonderful blog – so this is just to let you know that I am about to nominate you for ‘One Lovely Blog Award’ – congrats! The nominations and guidelines for the award will appear on my next post – hope you accept although I know you feel that these awards don’t mean anything this ‘award’ does mean that I appreciate your contribution to the blogosphere…

Hi Nancy – gods I so love that “Chair” piece above – super! Not sure if you are blogging anymore or just taking an extended break? Have missed your art and writings. Just wanted to thank you for all your visits and likes at Art Rat. Hope you are well and still drawing…J

Hi John! Oh gosh… yes and no. I kind of painted myself into a box here at BeesATC with self-imposed rules (practice art in practice size, scanned images, etc.), so I relaunched barnbees, an old wordpress blog, with NO rules as a place to write about anything, post whatever whenever, images snapped by cell phone, art any size/medium, bad poetry, etc. I did not plan to abandon BeesATC… it is just more comfy for me to post on barnbees right now. Feel free to check it out (should be link in gravatar) but please don’t think less of me for writing about some messed up things. Well, so good to hear from you! I don’t pop into the Art Rat Cafe as often, but always enjoy your blogs.

P.S. this chair art was created for one of those make art from an assigned word global projects, hundred of participants, and mailed one way (no returns) to the Art House Co-op of Atlanta, which relocated to NYC and opened the Brooklyn Art Library. My assigned word was “Chair”.

Hi, I just discovered your blog via the A to Z, and quickly decided to start following! I like your drawings, such nice colours. What a gift, to be able to create that, just paper and pencils and new worlds come to be!